Have you noticed how beat up the corner of the Loews Village VII marquee is? Looks as if a truck ran into it.
I hadn't. I guess I normally walk on the other side of Third Avenue here at East 11th Street to either a) avoid the bros at Village Pourhouse or b) the construction along 74-84 Third Ave. (despite the tempting blogger portals).
Plus, I hate this theater. I'd rather stand in line two hours at the Rite Aid on First Avenue and East Fifth Street. (Which I think I have ...) The last time that I saw a movie here ("Congo" in 1995?), I was the only person in the auditorium who didn't order nachos. (OK, I was there in the spring. Saw something kind of dumb.)
Plus, well, the place just sucks. Yes? No?
And this is how Cinema Treasure announced the theater's arrival in 1991: "With funkier offerings at other East Village theaters such as the Village East and Cinema Village, Loews opened this multiplex with more mainstream fare in mind for a gentrifying neighborhood."
For details on what stood on this corner before, check out theses posts at Jeremiah's Vanishing New York here ... and here.
I don't mind this theatre. It's rarely crowded, they often do 1/2 price Groupon like deals and it's one of the easiest theatres to forget you only paid for one movie and actually go see two.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, you never know which way the escalators will be running -- it's really bizarre.
2 hour lines at the Rite Aid are a "rite" of passage here though. There's only ever one cashier and always an old lady quarreling with him/her about coupons. It's annoying as shit but it's part of what makes New York, New York.
ReplyDeleteYes, it does suck. Can't remember when I saw a movie there last.
ReplyDeleteThe popcorn sucks, ergo the theater sucks. (My formula is simple.)
ReplyDeleteBest popcorn: 12th & 2nd.
i don't mind it either. Village East is my first choice (for non-Sunshine type movies), but this is a close second because it's not very crowded.
ReplyDeleteshoot me if i have to go to Union Square cinema after 3pm on a Saturday.
I don't love it, the seats are pretty uncomfortable, but I'm in favor of almost any movie theater. I consider it a big plus of the neighborhood that we have so many in walking distance. Including Union Square, which I also don't mind. By the way, I think this theater has a before noon discount, which is great.
ReplyDeleteHate this theater. In 10 years, only "had the pleasure" once. Saw "Monster" (I think that is what it was called) or whatever it was... previews started 20 minutes late... and I walked out at the anal rape scene.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pit of a theater. Won't go.
Jeremiah don't go to Union Square. Ever.
ReplyDeleteKips Bay is not bad... quick ride up the M15 to 30th... it's usually pretty dead there too...
Like this theater, actually! Have snuck into so many movies here... good times.
ReplyDeleteKips is nice but one of the hardest in the city to sneak into a 2nd film. Just being honest.
ReplyDeleteLike it or not, just be glad that movie theater is still there and that that corner hasn't yet been turned into another fugly glass condo, or a bank, or a pharmacy, or a multi-level fratastic bar à la Dave & Busters or ESPN Zone to compete with Nevada Smith's... or a combo of all -- high-end residential rentals on the top floors, retail and bar on the lower middle floors, bank or pharmacy on the ground floor. Oh, sh*t, I think I just gave the developers some idea.
ReplyDelete